Musical apparatus



Aug. 6,1921% 3, KAHLMEN 1,723fi353 MUSICAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1924 4 ShetS-Sh69t l 47 INVENTOR.

45 A W ddmww 60 BY AT ORNEY KAHLMEN "1,723,513

MUSICAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1924 4 Sheets-$heet 2 I INVENTOR, My W 7m 4 ATTO EY Aug. 6; 1929. c. KAHLMEN MUSICAL APPARATUS Fild on. 1.1, 1924 4 Sheets-5heet 3 1929. c. KAHLMEN 1,723,513

MUSICAL APPARATUS I Filed Oct. 11, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill 1, R g r W amzaw,

Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MUSIQAL APPARATUS.

Application filed October 11, 1924. Serial No. 742,968.

This invention relates to a musical device of the self-playing type, that is, it is operated by either an electrical motor or by foot pedals, and has a tracker bar or its equivalent for controlling by a perforated sheet or otherwise, the operation of a set of valves and their associated parts which, in turn, operate the piano action or the piano, the apparatus being designed also to receive a key operated reed instrument which ma be of various kinds but I will limit this description and illustration to an accordion as the instrument to be played with or in lieu of the piano action.

'The invention consists further in a holder and key operating mechanism for receiving the accordion so that the accordion when inserted in the apparatus, preferably when it has its bellows compressed, is in register with the key operating means so that it can be played. The invention also resides in dividing a connection from a self-playing apparatus to the accordion to provide the body thereof with suction in view of the operation of the bellowsof the accordion so as to operate the reeds in the accordion so that they will give forth sound when their respective keys are operated.

The device is adapted to receive an accordion and particularly to receive it so that it can be readily attached or detached so that the accordion when lifted from the apparatus can be played manually, that is, as an accordion is usually played by hand. The invention also consists in a selected means for operating either the piano or the accordion separately or both of them at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection for the accordion which will rovide for operating the swell or pedal of tlie accordion so as to control the volume of sound. A feature of this invention is in particular a musical device of the self playing type with its key operating fingers disposed so as to operate the keys of an accordion and having a suction pipe acting in View of the bellows of the accordion to o erate the reeds and a support for detacliably securing the accordion in position so that it can be played.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a ront view showing my improved invention mounted on a player piano. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the parts of a player piano connected with the playing mechanism of the accordion and illustrating the accordion in position. Figure 3 is a section of the casing of the accordion playing device, the operating mechanism and the accordion being shown in elevation looking from the front and Figure 4 is a similar view but looking from the rear, this view, however, not showing the valve box, being taken on line H in Figure 6. Figure 5 is a section showing the valve box, being taken on line 5-5 in Figure 6. Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the valves and is an enlarged view taken on line 77 in Figure 2. p

The invention is adapted to be used with any of the forms of pneumatic player instruments and for the purpose of clear description I show it used on a player piano 10 the 'parts of which will only be described so far as they relate to its-use with this invention and since the parts are well known in the art, they will not be described nor illustrated in detail except to the extent necessary to clearly describe the invention.

The player piano is provided with a pneumatic apparatus which can be operated in the usual way and I show foot pedals 11 for operating the main bellows or suction device 12, shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, which is connected by a pipe 13 with the wind chest (not shown and in rear of the tracker bar) and through it with the tracker bar 14 which tracker bar 14: is provided with note openings 15 which are connected by pipes 16 with their respective operating mechanisms 17 of the piano action so that they will sound the strings 18 by means of the hammers 19. The tracker bar is actuated by any of the usual types of player rolls 20 which have perforations that register with the openings 15 and thus sound the proper strings at the proper time to produce the melody.

My invention can be suitably disposed on such a pneumatic playing apparatus and I show a casing 21 which can be made ornamental and placed on top of a piano and has on its side portions the recesses 22 to receive the rolls 20, these recesses being closed by the doors 23. In the centre part of the cabinet I arran e the accordion 24, the accordion being 0 any of the usual types and I show one having the bellows for producing the wind pressure or suction to operate the reeds. The accordion 24 having a key board 26 which key board is usually arranged similar to the key board of a piano and at its other end a key board 27 having a series of spaced, round PIOJQOtlIlg keys, the keys on the key board 27 being adapted to be operated by the fingers "of the left hand and the keys on the key board 26 being adapted to be operated by the fingers of the right hand.

The accordion is usually readily attach; able and detachable and for this purpose I arrange the top 28 of the cabinet so that it can be removed, usually by hinging it as at 29 so that it can be swung open as shown in dotted outline in Figure 6. The accordion, when inserted" in the instrument, is held by suitable blocks 30 which can be arranged to engage it at the front and back at its bottom edge. When in position, the

keys of the accordion are in register with their operating means, to be described hereinafter.

A pipe 31 has one end detachable as at 32 and it is connected at its other end to the main suction bellows 12 and can have any suitable'nieans such as the valve 33 for shutting off the air so that when desired, the accordion will not play as it will not have any suction to operate the reeds. This valve 33"is shut off when the accordion 24 is not to be played and is opened to cause the playing of the accordion in conjunction with the piano.

When the piano is not to be played I swing the silence bar 34 down between the hammers 19 and the'strings 18, the bar 34 being preferably hinged at 35 and is normally held in operative position by any suitable means such as the spring 36 but when it is to be put in silencing position, the I handle 37 and the valve 38 are swung so as to open the hole 39 in the valve casing 38 which connects with the pipe 40 and the bellows 41 is thus actuated as the "pipe 42 connects it with the main bellows 12 and the arm 43 moves downward andswings the silencerbar 34 so that it is interposed be tween'all the hammers and all the strings of thepiano.

For operating the keys of the accordion I arrange on one side the bellows 44, each being operated from its respective valve 45, these valves preferably being arranged in a long valve box or casing 46 arranged along the back end'of the casing 21 and being'connected by pipes 47, each valve toits bellows, and by a pipe 48 to its corresponding pipe 16 so that the notes of the piano and of the accordion will be in harmony when the V instruments are played together. Each belnected by its pipe 45 in the valve box 46 respective pipes 48 connecting with the pipes 16 or" the piano action, as will be evident.

Each bellows has an arm 49 and a rod 50 connected with the lever 51 which is pivoted similar to the lever 52 on the other side tothe upright or bar 57. The valves 45 are of the usual type and I show one in detail in Figure 7, the valve box 46 having the'connection tor the pipes 47 and 48 of the usual slip-on type, that is, it is simply a rub: ber tube slipped over small projecting metallic pipes 58. The valve 45 is of the usual type and comprises a diaphragm 59, above which is the stem extending into the. upper chamber in which it supports the double-faced valve 61. The upper chamber is connected through the pipe 47 to a bellows and the chamber below the diaphragm 59 is connected through the pipe 58, to the tracker bar. The opening 62 is closed when the valve 61 is raised. When the opening in the tracker bar is uncovered the suction in the chamber of, valve 45 lifts the diaphragm 59 which in turn raises valve 61. This closes the opening 62 and the suction is then directed through pipe 47 to close the bellows-44 connected therewith. f

To control the volume of sound of the music played on the accordion I provide means for operating the lever 63 which is mounted on accordions ofthis kind and for thispurpose I provide a plate 64 which has a stud 65 operating in a slot on the end of the lever '63. The inner end of the lever with its connection for softening or'making louder the notes of the accordion, is not shown as itis an old construction and usual in accordions of the better kind. The plate 64 can slide as it is fastened through slots 66. K v

A lever 67 slides the plate 64, being pivoted as at 68 and connected at its other end tova bellows 69. The bellows is operated through pipes 70 from the valves 71 in the valve box 72. The bellows 69 isja double one and the arm 67 is moved in two directions thereby, according to which bellows is operated by suction and these areselectively operated on account of the valves 71 being connected by the pipes'7 3 to opposite ends of the tracker barwhere the'openings are provided.

56 with one of the valves which also have their ion Of course, e uivalents of this construction an be used but prefer to show this as used in conjunction with the music roll that controls, by perforations therein, the loudness or softness of the music produced by uncovering the openings 74 in the tracker bar 14.

I claim:

1. A musical apparatus comprising a portable, keyed wind instrument with reeds operated by a bellows, in combination with a holder for said instrument, pneumatic suction means including valves, said means being arranged to register with the keys of the instrument to operate them when in the holder, a connection to operate the said reeds through the instrument and a tracker bar for selectively actuating the valves.

2. A musical device comprising a pneumatic player piano, an accordion, a holder for the accordion in which it is detachably secured, and a set of operating means actuated by the pnematic means of the player piano and disposed so as to operate both on the reeds and the keys of the accordion.

3. The combination of a player piano, with an accordion, the accordion being detachable from the piano, the piano having pneumatic means for its playing and a connection for the operation of both the reeds and the keys of the accordion by said pneumatic means.

4. The combination of a player piano having a pneumatic operating mechanism, said mechanism including an additional key operating means, and having a support for holding a portable manually operable reed instrument, with such instrument which when in position is operated as to its keys by the additional key operating means, and a pipe for operating the reeds of the instrument.

5. The combination of a player piano having a pneumatic operating mechanism, said mechanism including an additional key operating means, and having a support for holding a portable manually operable reed instrument, with such instrument which when in position is'operated as to its keys by the additional keyoperating means, and a pipe for operating the reeds of the instrument, a tracker bar common to bot-h sets of playing mechanism, and means for selectively operating these sets.

6. A musical device, an accordion, a holder for the accordion, a set of bellows and valves for registering with the keys of the accordion when it is in the holder, a pipe connected to the accordion for the opera tion of the reeds by air, and a tracker bar and main suction means connected to the set of valves and bellows of the accordion operating means, the pipe being connected to said main suction means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereto set my hand, this 25th day of September, 1924.

CHARLES KAHLMEN. 

